Marvel star Frank Grillo slams Los Angeles criminal offense after coach Azuma Bennett shot useless

Marvel star Frank Grillo slammed Los Angeles’ growing crime following the killing of his private boxing trainer previous 7 days.

Grillo — acknowledged for his portrayal of the Marvel character Crossbones in “Avengers” and “Captain America” films — mourned the loss of coach Azuma Bennett, who was shot lifeless outside the house a authorized marijuana dispensary in Windsor Hills Friday early morning.

“He produced everyone come to feel excellent about training,” Grillo explained to KNBC. “I don’t know what’s happened to Los Angeles that a attractive guy like this receives shot and killed around very little.”

Bennett, 30, was shot at the very least eight moments and died while on the way to an place clinic, law enforcement claimed. Investigators have not unveiled a doable motive in his taking pictures or identified any suspects.

The trainer’s murder arrives as homicides in Los Angeles arrived at the highest stage in 15 a long time, according to ABC7. In the first half of the yr, the metropolis observed 181 murders — a 34% increase from the average quantity of homicides throughout the similar time period involving 2015 and 2019.

Bennett, who worked out of Fortune Gymnasium in Los Angeles, experienced a lot of celeb clients these kinds of as Grillo, UFC fighter Jason “Mayhem” Miller and singers Kiana Ledé and Eddie Benjamin.

“Azuma was our family. 1 of the finest of the greatest. We are all so damaged,” Fortune Health club said in a assertion.

Bennett, from Australia, moved to the US three many years ago. A GoFundMe page was developed to increase dollars to send Bennett’s entire body again to his dwelling country. It has raised far more than $35,000 as of early Friday.

“Azuma was one particular of a variety. An fantastic athlete, fighter, teacher trainer, and buddy/mate to so quite a few,” health and fitness center proprietor Tamara Fortune wrote in the GoFundMe page description. “We missing 1 of the finest kinds out there.”

“He did not are entitled to this,” Fortune additional. “He was form to all that he met and constantly engaged everyone in the fitness center with his constructive electrical power and engaging temperament.”